Cotton picker doffer assembly



Oct. 6, 1953 P. MILLARD coTToN PICKER DOFFER ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 17,19.51

and is obviously inherently undesirable.

low as possible.

Patented ct. 6, 195.3

COTTON PICKER DOFFER ASSEMBLY Lee P. Millard, Chicago, Ill., assignor toInternational Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationFebruary 17, 1951, Serial No. 211,463

(ci. ses-'41) 3 claims. 1

This invention relates to cotton pickers of the type shown in UnitedStates Johnston Patent L particularly to an improvement in the doflingmeans thereof.

Cotton pickers of this class embody a plurality of spindles arranged forsystematic insertion into a cotton plant, the spindles rotating toentwine or snag cotton thereon, and then being withdrawn from the plantand advanced to a dofier station whereat means are employed to removethe lint from each spindle.

The present invention is concerned with an arrangement wherein the'doiiing means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced discassemblies, each assembly cooperating with a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally aligned spindles which move thereunder, the assembliesfunctioning to brush or sweep the cotton off the laden spindles.

Current constructions utilize vertical bars each of which carry aplurality of equally spaced vertically aligned spindles. The intent isto position these bars, which make up the picker drum, in such manner asto obtain horizontal alignment of corresponding spindles on therespective bars to form horizontal rows of spindles, each rowcooperating with a separate doffer disc. It will be readily appreciatedhowever, that perfect Yhorizontal alignment of all of the spindles in arow cannot be realized in practical embodiments wherein dueconsideration to costs must be given, and that variations arising fromuneven wear, manufacturing tolerances, inexact adjustment or assemblyetc., are the usual order. It will be further understood, that even ifperfect horizontal alignment were achieved, the crop would notdistribute evenly on all of the spindles so that their presentation tothe doffers would not be uniform.

All of these factors heretofore directed a compromise adjustment of thedoffer assemblies at the discretion of the mechanic or operator todetermine the average condition. Such average condition is of coursetheoretical and cannot provide a satisfactory criterion for adjustment,It has been found in actual practice that the operator is notparticularly concerned with fine increments of adjustment but merelylocates the doffers as This not only accelerates wear of the doffers,the spindles and the cooperating parts, but also under proper conditionsimposes heavy breaking stresses thereon. Furthermore, the mechanismworks inefliciently with increased power consumption.

A general object of the invention is to provide an automaticallyself-adjusting doffer assembly, the action of which is correlated to theexact condition presented.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a dofler mechanismincluding a plurality of discs each of which functions with a particularrow of spindles and is individually adjustable to meet the specificcondition encountered.

A speciflc object of the invention is to provide a doffer comprising aexible structure in the form of a thin sheet steel disc with doflingpads secured thereto, the disc being yieldable to accommodate theconstantly varying conditions.

A further object is to devise a doffer disc which maybe simply andeconomically manufactured.

Another object is to provide a disc cheap enough to be expendible sothat it may be dis- ?carded `when the pads become worn.

A different object is to mount the discs in a novel manner which willassist flexing of the discs. v

A still further object is to provide a simple slip mounting of the discswith spacers therebetween on the driving shaft, the discs being normallyheld to rotate with the shaft but being capable of slipping under usualconditions such as may otherwise cause breakage of the parts.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe specification and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a portion of a picker drum structure with parts omittedand a dofflng mechanism associated therewith, portions of the doflingstructure being shown in vertical cross section, and

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of one of the doffer discs.

structure and carry a plurality of verticallv spaced spindles or pickingelements 4 which are moved past the doffer structure during operation ofthe picker.

Inasmuch as the invention resides in the doffer mechanism, only limitedparts of the picker con- 'struction have been shown as are necessary toillustrate the invention.

The doffer mechanism consists essentially of In actual practice, thesediscs have performed well and have been definitely observed moving withan undulating effect, thus providing an adjustable dofng attitudeconcomitant with the specific position of each spindle and the amount fcrop therehi The nexibility of the discs IIJ Valso Amaterially reducesstress on the parts and considerably prolongs the life thereof. The ne-.cssity of frequent adjustment is also precluded.

the distorting force is removed; The .disc

plate IU is preferably formed-of hat :sheet steel of between eleven andsixteen guage.

The disc is provided on one sidejhereof with a resilient doing element,generally indicated,

The yinherent .resiliency in each disc permits adjiistir'it of 'thedoffers in a position whereat they may be set with their members I6 inclose Y pi'biifity to but out of contact or light contact I2. Theelement I2 is formed of material suchas natural or synthetic rubber andcomprises an annulus or ring I4 vlocated adjacent to the outer peripheryof Adisc .lil and has an outer edge which coincides with the outermargin nf the disc I0. The annulus I2 is bonded :or vulcanized or united.at one orrobverse 4side 'to .the plate I0 and has on its Y.opposite orreverse side a plurality of integral circumferentially spaced axiallyextended projections or doffer members or Ilugs I6,I6 which are taperedcross section and -are generally apical in shape. It will -be :seen froma .consideration of Fig-ure .2 that the annulus I4 is located adjacentto the outer periphery -of the `.plate I- and has .its inner marginspaced a substantial distance :from the axial center, circular mountingripening I8 of the disc.

Referring now to Figure l, it willbe noted that the doffers 8 arestacked vertically on the shaft 6, the shaft extending through Vtheopenings I8 in the respective discs im and the discspbeing suitablyspaced .by means of spacers or sleeves A29 disposed between or atopposite sides of the :discs and in abutment therewith. The uppermostsleeve 20 or abutment means is secured to the shaft by a -bolt and nutassembly7 22 and the discs land sleeves `are tightly irictionallyengaged by being tightened axially by a nut 2'4 which is threaded on thelower end of the shaft t. This provides a rotatable slip mounting forthe doifer elements or discs. In the present embodiment, the :nut orabutment means 24 acts against an inner race 26 of `a bearing assembly28, the race 26 abutting a washer 30 which in .turn bears against aninturned ange .32 of a Adust cap 3i, the flange .32 abutting against thelowe edge of the loweremcst sleeve 28.

Inorder to 'facilitate flexing 4of .the plates lI!) the openings I8therein are made about cnexsixty-fourth of an inch larger 'in diameterYthan the thickness of the shaft 6. Thus. during nexing `of the plateI0, resistance thereto., is offered by the material composing the discand by the 'clamping action of the sleeves 20 above Iand below the same.The clearance, which is -exaggerated Figure 1 and-shown .at 36,eliminates any tendency for the inner periphery @of the zdisc to diginto the shaft 6, and thus restrain its flexing. The :sleeves Aor tubesare -relatively thin and merely pinch `the ,plates `adjacent to theirinner .peripheries so as to o iier .minimum resistance to .flexing ofthe discs. The discs may, under predetermined ioad, rotate :slightlyabout .the shaft to prevent breakage. This vis possible inasmuch asthere is only -f-r-ictional 'engagement between the 'discs-and -sleeves.

with the priphries of the spindles in the associated row. 'Ijhis.provides an effective doing relationship which materially prolongs thelife of the 'spindles and the members I6 by reducing abrasiontherebetween.

The thinness of the Vdiscs also provides better clearance conditionsbetween the discs and the kspindles and permits spacing `the spindlescloser together or forming the rubber-like doffer elements thicker forlonger wear.

`What is claimed is:

l. A dofier for a cotton picker of the type described comprising a thin,resilient, annular plate and d'oer means carried thereby and comprisingan annulus having a 'bonded connection to one side of the plate at theouter periphery thereof, and axially projecting doing lugs integral with4said annulus, .said doier means being formed 'of rubber-like material.

2-.A d'oier for a cotton picker of the type described comprising a thin,resilient, annular sheet steel .plate and Helfer means carried therebyand Acomprising aan annulus having a bonded vconnection to one side .ofthe plate .at the outer periphery thereof, and axially projecting dofnglugs integral 'with :said annulus, said dofer means being `formed ofrubberelike material.

3. A doffer for :a cotton picker of the type described comprising athin, resilient, annular plate and doler means Acarried thereby and com-.pr-ising an annulus having a bonded connection to fone .side 'of the'plate at the outer periphery thereof, and axially projecting dofng lugsin- 'tegrai with said annulus, said doier means being sforined ofrubber-.like material, said .plate having a center circular opening, acylindrical shaft .extending 'through the opening, means including4sleeves on the shaft at opposite sides of the .plate iin .tight:clamping engagement therewith 'and 'affording a frictional connectionbetween the shaft and the plate, vsaid sleeves lbeing rafd-ially a'ndengaging said plate only about fsaid opening 'for :minimum resistance toexing of the plate.

LEE P. MILLARD.

`-Re'ierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITEB 4:STifilffilsPATENTS bluiriber Name Date 423,54; Toad Mar. 18., 1890 798,65; Applebysept. 5, 1905 v1,668,247 `Miva May l, 1928 1302,1)2'2 .Jhil'sb'n l 9.1.Apl. 21, 1931 1,828Q53 J OhlS'tOl .et a1. CL. 20, 19'31 2,149,631Johnston Dec. 20, '1938 .2,247,682 Hagen July i, '1941 2,24*??686JOh'Il'StI'l July 1, 1941 2,462,800 Bfly Feb. .'22, T949

